TCE 593 Teaching Reading and Writing in the Middle and Secondary Schools

COURSE
DESCRIPTION

Students in Reading and Writing in the Middle and Secondary Schools will develop an understanding of teaching literacy across the content areas, with particular attention to the application of skills that support Oregon's academic content standards and assessment systems. Students will examine the role of reading and writing skills in the standards-based classroom through authentic practices and contexts. The class is designed to assist educators in identifying modes of communication and integrating instruction and assessment that support students' work to meet standards and to communicate effectively in school, community, and work.

PREREQUISITES

There are no required prerequisites for this course. However, learners are assumed to be teachers with experience with middle and high school students.

COURSE
STRUCTURE

Learning tasks will be problem-based and related to the teaching experience. Students will identify the reading and writing skills appropriate to content area curriculum and will design, implement, and assess instruction in reading and writing strategies that promote student success in a standards-based classroom and connect to school, community, and work. Students will engage in reflective dialogue with colleagues at the school site, and instructors, and peers through the Discussion Board to analyze and improve instruction.

STANDARDS

This course supports the following International Reading Association's 2003 Standards for Reading Professionals:

2.2	Use a wide range of instructional practices, approaches and methods, including technology-based practices, for learners at different stages of development and from differing cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
2.3	Use a wide range of curriculum materials in effective reading instruction for learners at different stages of reading and writing development and from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
3.3	Use assessment information to plan, evaluate, and revise effective instruction that meets the needs of all students, including those at different developmental stages and those from differing cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
4.1	Use students' interests, reading abilities, and backgrounds as foundations for the reading and writing program.
4.3	Model reading and writing enthusiastically as valued lifelong activities.
4.4	Motivate learners to be lifelong readers.

PRACTICAL
APPLICATIONS

The learner will be able to:

identify reading and writing skills needed for school, community, and work congruent with grade level and curricular area taught;
become familiar with the individual traits of Oregon reading and writing scoring guides, as well as related Oregon assessments;
using scoring guides to design reading and writing work samples and verify student judgments when appropriate;
identify multiple modes for delivering information and the reading and writing strategies appropriate to each mode;
apply knowledge of current research in the teaching of reading and writing to integrate the teaching of these skills within the curricular area;
design student-centered instructional practices that promote learning and practice in the effective use of reading and writing skills;
participate in reflective dialogue with peers and instructors to self-evaluate to improve instruction.

CORE/ELECTIVE

This graduate course can be used as 3 elective credits in the Literacy Strategies and Methods thematic area in the 24-credit Reading Endorsement program, the 12-credit Literary Education program, or for individual professional development. Please consult an advisor at your home institution about adding this course to your program.

INSTRUCTOR

Kay Stephens, 26 years teaching English language arts at middle and secondary level in public schools with experience in alternative education, gifted education, and technology. 14 years at Oregon State University in teacher education as field supervisor and coordinator of Professional Teacher Education in Language Arts Licensure. Eight years of writing and teaching methods and literacy courses online to pre-service and inservice teachers. (BS, Valley City State University; MA, Fort Hays State University)

TARGET
AUDIENCE

Middle and high school teachers.

TIME
COMMITMENT

Students should expect to spend 9 hours per week for 10 weeks in course-related activities (e.g., reading the text and course materials, posting to discussion forums, completing written reports/papers and classroom-based assignments). This course is online and does not require in-person attendance. Assignments are completed on the learner's time schedule and are due as posted.

TEXTBOOK

A textbook is required for this course. You will be sent the textbook title and suggested purchase locations when you register for the course.

COST

No course in the ReadOregon curriculum will cost more than $330 per credit, including all fees, for students in the ReadOregon program.

CONTACT

For more details on this course, please contact Kay Stephens at OSU.